DECEMBER 22, 1 Kings 8:54-61

Do you know of people who have given their lives to a particular passion or cause? Some strive to be the best actor on stage, the famous football player the wealthiest businessmen on earth, and the list goes on. Maybe you have a passion or goal that you are striving towards as well! Is it to score the highest marks in class or to win a competition? There’s no doubt that all of us give our lives to something. The only difference is what we give our lives to.

In today’s Bible passage, we read of Solomon speaking to the congregation of Israel. Solomon praised God who kept all His promises to Israel, and called on the nation to follow and obey Him with all their hearts. Besides dedicating the temple, he called the people to dedicate and give their lives to the LORD. What is the temple, if the people turned away from following the LORD? Therefore, what was more important is that the people fully consecrated their lives to God.This means a total devotion and dedication to the LORD and His cause.

The people of the world give their lives to find satisfaction in things that are temporal. Their lives are devoted to a relentless pursuit of achievements that are very soon forgotten. For example, can you remember who the top student in your school was last year? And at the end of it all, what awaits them is eternity in hell, because they believed not in God nor His Word.

Whereas to consecrate your life to the LORD, is to make your life count for eternity. What does this mean? It means that whatever you do for the LORD now is known to Him. Even the small little things that you think nobody sees, God knows. He can use all your works of obedience and service to be a blessing to others, so that they may also come to know the Living and True God! What are you giving your life to? Work for the cause of the LORD! Don’t waste your time, or your life.

Thought: What you are devoting your life to? Reflect on how you spend your time because that shows where your heart is, and what your life is devoted to.

Prayer: Father in heaven, renew a right spirit within me. Incline my heart and all its desires to heavenly affections and not earthly ambitions. May Your name be honoured and exalted in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.